According to data released by the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC), global Cognac sales dipped 4% in 2013, yet sales rose 0.2%, which commentators have seen as indicative of a growing consumer penchant for expensive luxury spirits.

Over recent months, numerous Cognac producers have announced a decline in their profits, largely attributed to the Chinese Government’s crackdown on luxury spending and gifting which has resulted in a slowdown in the country’s Cognac and high-end Scotch market.

However, it will come as no surprise that China remains high on our list of the world’s largest Cognac markets, with BNIC claiming the region is still one of Cognac’s “ most important export market in terms of volume and value”.

But which other countries maintain a penchant for the luxury spirit?

Based on Euromonitor’s findings of how many litres of vodka were consumed in 2012, we count down five of the world’s largest Cognac markets.